VOORHEES, N.J. — Flyers goal Ray Emery suffered a lower body injury in the 7-3 loss to the San Jose Sharks Thursday night, according to general manager Paul Holmgren.

Holmgren said the Flyers were waiting on results of an MRI, which were not expected to be available until late Friday night.

Emery had replaced starting goalie Steve Mason in the second period with the Flyers trailing 4-2, and had allowed the last three Sharks goals in the blowout. At one point Emery was stretched out on the ice amid a scrum around the crease for the puck.

With just more than nine minutes remaining, Emery removed himself from the game, telling head coach Craig Berube that he felt something was wrong. Mason returned to the crease and finished the game.

While waiting on the results of the MRI and a doctor’s report Friday, Holmgren indicated the Flyers could be calling up another goalie, likely the Phantoms’ Cal Heeter. But, Holmgren added, “I’m holding out hope we won’t have to.”

Emery, on a 1-year, $1.65 million deal, has been a steady backup this season for Mason. Emery is 7-9-1 with a 2.91 goals-against average and .902 saves percentage through 21 games.

He also had injury issues in his only other season with the Flyers in 2009-10. He was limited to 29 games, first by a “significant” tear of an abdominal muscle that would require surgery in December.

Emery returned from that but wound up injuring his hip, and eventually developed Avascular Necrosis, a condition that disrupts blood flow to the hip joint. A similar condition ended Bo Jackson’s NFL career.

It was said the bone at the head of Emery’s femur “was dead,” but through surgery and diligent rehabilitation, he rebuilt his NHL career, putting in stints in Anaheim and Chicago before rejoining the Flyers this season.

While Emery missed Friday’s practice and Holmgren confirmed it was due to a lower body issue he added Emery was not being evaluated for any injury problem connected with the hip.